In 1964, Unicord (a manufacturer of electric transformers acquired by Gulf and Western Industries in 1959) purchased the Amplifier Corporation of America and began marketing a line of amplifiers under the name of Univox.

Univox-branded fretted instruments (electric and acoustic guitars and electric basses) began being imported from Japanese contract manufacturer Matsumoku in 1968,[citation needed] In 1978 Unicord phased out the Univox line of guitars and equipment. They switched to an original guitar line called “Westbury”, and an amp line called Stage which lasted until about 1982. The Unicord Corporation was purchased by Korg in 1985, effectively ending the line.